Earth Friendly Products, a leader in manufacturing award-winning eco-friendly cleaning products, received the 2014 Large Business award at the 15th Annual Orange County Business Journal’s Family Owned Business Awards. These prestigious awards are an opportunity for OCBJ to recognize the accomplishments and local contributions of family owned businesses, based in Orange County.
“For family businesses to survive, it takes a multi-generational commitment. Family businesses require leaders first, and owners second,” said Gavin Herbert Jr., who delivered the keynote address and whose company was the recipient of last year’s Medium-Sized Business award.
A crowd of more that 350 turned out for the awards luncheon held on November 19, 2014 at the Hotel Irvine to celebrate five honorees. This year’s award recipients covered a broad range of industries and family backgrounds. The Large Business award was presented to Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, CEO of Earth Friendly Products by Gordon S. MacLean,Partner at Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP.
“Thank you to the Orange County Business Journal for this wonderful honor today. My father built a business that is not only environmentally responsible but socially responsible,” said Vlahakis-Hanks, in her acceptance speech. “I am proud to continue his legacy, keeping Earth Friendly Products a family owned and operated business while continuing to lead our company in the environmental movement.”
Earth Friendly Products’ first Orange County facility was opened in 1977 by green pioneer Dr. Van Vlahakis and has continued to create green jobs in the community since it’s inception. Making sustainability a corporate priority in all of its five manufacturing facilities strategically located across the United States has resulted in Earth Friendly Products having now achieved carbon neutrality.
On Earth Day, April 2014, Earth Friendly Products raised their minimum wage for all employees nationwide to $17.00 per hour to ensure that every employee works according to the founding principles of the company, fairness and responsibility.
In a recent statement Vlahakis-Hanks stated, “Raising the minimum wage is essential to creating a truly sustainable workplace and economy. We lower our employee turnover and increase productivity at our company by paying a living wage and this money goes right back into the economy. To us, it is simply smart business, proving that a company can be good stewards of the environment, treat its employees with dignity and remain strong, stable and profitable.”
Earth Friendly Products has a large presence throughout Orange County with products available in Mothers Market, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Ralphs Walmart and Fresh & Easy stores. The company works closely with numerous Orange County organizations such as The Discovery Science Center and supports the Orange County Junior League, Orange County Girl Scouts and is proud to have created a green educational science program, ECOScience, which is part of the ongoing curriculum in elementary schools across Southern California.
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